Andrei Svechnikov scored an empty-net goal and added three assists, marking the first four-point game of his seven-year career in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.
NHL points leader Martin Necas had a goal and an assist, while Eric Robinson, Seth Jarvis, and Jack Roslovic also scored for Carolina, which ended a three-game losing streak.
Pyotr Kochetkov made 16 saves, earning his first win since November 20. He had missed some time due to a concussion and had taken a loss in Tuesday’s game against Seattle.
Valeri Nichushkin scored twice for Colorado, while Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring for the Avalanche. Colorado’s goalie Scott Wedgewood stopped 30 shots.
Wedgewood, who was acquired from Nashville last Saturday, made his first start for Colorado after getting a win in relief earlier in the week.
The Avalanche, playing the second game of a five-game road trip, couldn’t come back after recovering from a four-goal deficit in their 5-4 win over Buffalo on Tuesday night.
The teams scored three goals in the final 2:11, starting with Necas’ power-play goal that pushed Carolina to a 4-2 lead and increased his point total to 41.
Nichushkin answered just 24 seconds later, but Svechnikov finished his career night with his ninth goal of the season with 16 seconds left.
Carolina won for the seventh time in 12 games where they allowed the first goal of the game.
The Avalanche took the lead 9:13 into the first period when Lehkonen capitalized on a Carolina defensive mistake, breaking away from the neutral zone to score.
Lehkonen has scored three goals in his last four games, bringing his season total to six, despite missing the first 12 games.
Carolina responded when Robinson scored his eighth goal at 16:05 in the first period.
The Hurricanes had two power-play opportunities in the first period but failed to score. However, Jarvis scored with the man advantage at 4:09 in the second period to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.
Roslovic added another goal less than three minutes later for his 13th of the season. He has been scoring at a much higher pace this year compared to the 2023-24 season, where he only had nine goals in 59 games with Columbus and the New York Rangers.
Nichushkin scored his first goal of the game at 14:41 in the third period before Necas answered with the game-winning goal.
